2,047 research outputs found
Spectroscopic analysis of interaction between an EIT wave and a coronal upflow region
We report a spectroscopic analysis of an EIT wave event that occurred in
active region 11081 on 2010 June 12 and was associated with an M2.0 class
flare. The wave propagated near circularly. The south-eastern part of the wave
front passed over an upflow region nearby a magnetic bipole. Using EIS raster
observations for this region, we studied the properties of plasma dynamics in
the wave front, as well as the interaction between the wave and the upflow
region. We found a weak blueshift for the Fe XII {\lambda}195.12 and Fe XIII
{\lambda}202.04 lines in the wave front. The local velocity along the solar
surface, which is deduced from the line of sight velocity in the wave front and
the projection effect, is much lower than the typical propagation speed of the
wave. A more interesting finding is that the upflow and non-thermal velocities
in the upflow region are suddenly diminished after the transit of the wave
front. This implies a significant change of magnetic field orientation when the
wave passed. As the lines in the upflow region are redirected, the velocity
along the line of sight is diminished as a result. We suggest that this
scenario is more in accordance with what was proposed in the field-line
stretching model of EIT waves.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Automatic correction of hand pointing in stereoscopic depth
In order to examine whether stereoscopic depth information could drive fast automatic correction of hand pointing, an experiment was designed in a 3D visual environment in which participants were asked to point to a target at different stereoscopic depths as quickly and accurately as possible within a limited time window (≤300 ms). The experiment consisted of two tasks: "depthGO" in which participants were asked to point to the new target position if the target jumped, and "depthSTOP" in which participants were instructed to abort their ongoing movements after the target jumped. The depth jump was designed to occur in 20% of the trials in both tasks. Results showed that fast automatic correction of hand movements could be driven by stereoscopic depth to occur in as early as 190 ms.This work was supported by the Grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (60970062 and 61173116) and the Doctoral Fund of Ministry of Education of China (20110072110014)
Electrotunable nanoplasmonic liquid mirror
Recently, there has been a drive to design and develop fully tunable metamaterials for applications ranging from new classes of sensors to superlenses among others. Although advances have been made, tuning and modulating the optical properties in real time remains a challenge. We report on the first realization of a reversible electrotunable liquid mirror based on voltage-controlled self-assembly/disassembly of 16 nm plasmonic nanoparticles at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions. We show that optical properties such as reflectivity and spectral position of the absorption band can be varied in situ within ±0.5 V. This observed effect is in excellent agreement with theoretical calculations corresponding to the change in average interparticle spacing. This electrochemical fully tunable nanoplasmonic platform can be switched from a highly reflective ‘mirror’ to a transmissive ‘window’ and back again. This study opens a route towards realization of such platforms in future micro/nanoscale electrochemical cells, enabling the creation of tunable plasmonic metamaterials
The Presence of Weak Active Galactic Nuclei in High Redshift Star Forming Galaxies
We present [OIII 5007A] observations of the star forming galaxy HDF-BMZ1299
(z=1.598) using Keck Observatory's Adaptive Optics system with the
near-infrared integral field spectrograph OSIRIS. Using previous Halpha and
[NII] measurements of the same source, we are able for the first time to use
spatially resolved observations to place a high-redshift galaxy's substructure
on a traditional HII diagnostic diagram. We find that HDF-BMZ1299's spatially
concentrated nebular ratios in the central ~1.5 kiloparsec (0."2) are best
explained by the presence of an AGN: log([NII]/Halpha)=-0.22+/-0.05 and 2sigma
limit of log([OIII]/Hbeta)>0.26. The dominant energy source of this galaxy is
star formation, and integrating a single aperture across the galaxy yields
nebular ratios that are composite spectra from both AGN and HII regions. The
presence of an embedded AGN in HDF-BMZ1299 may suggest a potential
contamination in a fraction of other high-redshift star forming galaxies, and
we suggest that this may be a source of the "elevated" nebular ratios
previously seen in seeing-limited metallicity studies. HDF-BMZ1299's estimated
AGN luminosity is L_Halpha = 3.7e41 erg/s and L_[OIII] = 5.8e41 erg/s, making
it one of the lowest luminosity AGN discovered at this early epoch.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, ApJ Accepted, new version to be published
(updated text, figures, and table
SPARC, a phase-I trial of pre‐operative, margin intensified, stereotactic body radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer
Background and purpose:
Following resection of pancreatic cancer, risk of positive margins and local recurrence remain high, especially for borderline-resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC). We aimed to establish the maximum tolerated dose of a margin-intensified five-fraction stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) regimen designed to treat the region at risk. /
Materials and methods:
We conducted a prospective multicentre phase-1 rolling-six dose-escalation study. BRPC patients received pre-operative SBRT, with one dose to the primary tumour and an integrated boost to the region where tumour was in contact with vasculature. Four dose-levels were proposed, with starting dose 30 Gy to primary PTV and 45 Gy to boost volume (PTV_R), in five daily fractions. Primary endpoint was maximum tolerated dose (MTD), defined as highest dose where zero of three or one of six patients experienced dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). /
Results:
Twelve patients were registered, eleven received SBRT. Radiotherapy was well tolerated with all treatment completed as scheduled. Dose was escalated one level up from starting dose without encountering any DLT (prescribed 32.5 Gy PTV, 47.5 Gy PTV_R). Nine serious adverse reactions or events occurred (seven CTCAE Grade 3, two Grade 4). Two patients went on to have surgical resection. Median overall survival for SBRT patients was 8.1 months. The study closed early when it was unable to recruit to schedule. /
Conclusion:
Toxicity of SBRT was low for the two dose-levels that were tested, but MTD was not established. Few patients subsequently underwent resection of pancreatic tumour after SBRT, and it is difficult to draw conclusions regarding the safety or toxicity of these therapies in combination
SPARC, a phase-I trial of pre‐operative, margin intensified, stereotactic body radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer
Background and purpose:
Following resection of pancreatic cancer, risk of positive margins and local recurrence remain high, especially for borderline-resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC). We aimed to establish the maximum tolerated dose of a margin-intensified five-fraction stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) regimen designed to treat the region at risk. /
Materials and methods:
We conducted a prospective multicentre phase-1 rolling-six dose-escalation study. BRPC patients received pre-operative SBRT, with one dose to the primary tumour and an integrated boost to the region where tumour was in contact with vasculature. Four dose-levels were proposed, with starting dose 30 Gy to primary PTV and 45 Gy to boost volume (PTV_R), in five daily fractions. Primary endpoint was maximum tolerated dose (MTD), defined as highest dose where zero of three or one of six patients experienced dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). /
Results:
Twelve patients were registered, eleven received SBRT. Radiotherapy was well tolerated with all treatment completed as scheduled. Dose was escalated one level up from starting dose without encountering any DLT (prescribed 32.5 Gy PTV, 47.5 Gy PTV_R). Nine serious adverse reactions or events occurred (seven CTCAE Grade 3, two Grade 4). Two patients went on to have surgical resection. Median overall survival for SBRT patients was 8.1 months. The study closed early when it was unable to recruit to schedule. /
Conclusion:
Toxicity of SBRT was low for the two dose-levels that were tested, but MTD was not established. Few patients subsequently underwent resection of pancreatic tumour after SBRT, and it is difficult to draw conclusions regarding the safety or toxicity of these therapies in combination
Related flavonoids cause cooperative inhibition of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase by multimode mechanisms.
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Ogunbayo, O. A., & Michelangeli, F. (2014). Related flavonoids cause cooperative inhibition of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase by multimode mechanisms. FEBS Journal, 281(3), 766-777, which has been published in final form at doi: 10.1111/febs.12621. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.Flavonoids are group of plant-derived hydroxylated polycyclic molecules found in fruit and vegetables. They are known to bio-accumulate within humans and are considered to have beneficial health effects, including cancer chemoprotection. One mechanism proposed to explain this is that they are able to induce apoptosis in cancer cells by inhibiting a variety of kinases and also the Ca²⁺ ATPase. An investigation was undertaken with respect to the mechanism of inhibition for three flavonoids: quercetin, galangin and 3,6 dihydroxyflavone (3,6-DHF). Each inhibited the Ca²⁺ ATPase with K(i) values of 8.7, 10.3 and 5.4 μM, respectively, showing cooperative inhibition with n ~ 2. Given their similar structures, the flavonoids showed several differences in their mechanisms of inhibition. All three flavonoids stabilized the ATPase in the E₁ conformation and reduced [³²P]-ATP binding. However, both galangin and 3,6-DHF increased the affinity of Ca²⁺ for the ATPase by decreasing the Ca²⁺-dissociation rate constant, whereas quercetin had little effect. Ca²⁺-induced changes in tryptophan fluorescence levels were reduced in the presence of 3,6-DHF and galangin (but not with quercetin), indicating that Ca²⁺-associated changes within the transmembrane helices are altered. Both galangin and quercetin reduced the rates of ATP-dependent phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, whereas 3,6-DHF did not. Modelling studies suggest that flavonoids could potentially bind to two sites: one directly where nucleotides bind within ATP binding site and the other at a site close by. We hypothesize that interactions of these two neighbouring sites may account for both the cooperative inhibition and the multimode mechanisms of action seen with related flavonoids
Crab cavities for linear colliders
Crab cavities have been proposed for a wide number of accelerators and
interest in crab cavities has recently increased after the successful operation
of a pair of crab cavities in KEK-B. In particular crab cavities are required
for both the ILC and CLIC linear colliders for bunch alignment. Consideration
of bunch structure and size constraints favour a 3.9 GHz superconducting,
multi-cell cavity as the solution for ILC, whilst bunch structure and
beam-loading considerations suggest an X-band copper travelling wave structure
for CLIC. These two cavity solutions are very different in design but share
complex design issues. Phase stabilisation, beam loading, wakefields and mode
damping are fundamental issues for these crab cavities. Requirements and
potential design solutions will be discussed for both colliders.Comment: 3 pages. To be published in proceedings of LINAC 2008, Victoria,
Canad
Prediction of the in situ coronal mass ejection rate for solar cycle 25: Implications for parker solar probe in situ observations
The Parker Solar Probe (PSP) and Solar Orbiter missions are designed to make groundbreaking observations of the
Sun and interplanetary space within this decade. We show that a particularly interesting in situ observation of an
interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) by PSP may arise during close solar flybys (<0.1 au). During these
times, the same magnetic flux rope inside an ICME could be observed in situ by PSP twice, by impacting its frontal
part as well as its leg. Investigating the odds of this situation, we forecast the ICME rate in solar cycle 25 based on
two models for the sunspot number (SSN): (1) the forecast of an expert panel in 2019 (maximum SSN = 115), and
(2) a prediction by McIntosh et al. (2020, maximum SSN = 232). We link the SSN to the observed ICME rates in
solar cycles 23 and 24 with the Richardson and Cane list and our own ICME catalog, and calculate that between
one and seven ICMEs will be observed by PSP at heliocentric distances <0.1 au until 2025, including 1σ
uncertainties. We then model the potential flux rope signatures of such a double-crossing event with the
semiempirical 3DCORE flux rope model, showing a telltale elevation of the radial magnetic field component BR,
and a sign reversal in the component BN normal to the solar equator compared to field rotation in the first
encounter. This holds considerable promise to determine the structure of CMEs close to their origin in the solar
corona
- …